You already know that maintaining good oral hygiene is essential for gum health, but is it possible to eat your way to healthier gums?
While you can’t replace brushing and flossing with snacking, you can incorporate a few items into your diet to help your gums stay strong and keep gingivitis at bay.
As beneficial as these foods may be, it doesn’t help if you keep an imbalanced diet by having more sugary and acidic foods than you do gum-positive items. We’re not saying you have to ditch certain treats altogether; just be sure that your intake of gum-healthy foods outweighs the unhealthy foods.
The Top Five Foods for Gum Health
1. Ginger
Ginger root is known as a healing herb for its anti-inflammatory properties. Ginger prevents gum disease because it fosters healthy tissue in your mouth. Additionally, it’s a versatile ingredient that you can incorporate into your diet in many ways. You can try ginger tea, adding fresh ginger to a smoothie, or sprinkling ginger into your next stir-fry or soup.
2. Apples
An apple a day keeps the dentist away! Eating a firm fruit like an apple wipes away some of the plaque clinging to your gums and teeth. At the same time, they’re incredibly nutritious and can help your overall health in addition to your dental health. Whether you prefer to eat the apples sliced or whole, take your time and enjoy the flavor while you polish your pearly whites.
3. Dairy
Good news for cheese lovers everywhere! Dairy products, including milk, cheese, and yogurt, are great for fortifying your teeth because of their calcium content. You can start drinking a glass of dairy milk before bed (sorry, no almond milk or other alternatives will help your gums in the same way), or you can snack on a piece of cheese or a container of yogurt.
4. Fiber
Foods that are rich in fiber are fantastic for your digestive system and your teeth. Plus, anytime you’re eating whole foods, it’s likely that you’re eating healthier. Fiber helps keep your mouth clean because it causes the release of extra saliva to compensate for more chewing, and in return, this saliva washes away harmful acids.
There are plenty of fiber-heavy foods that you can adopt into your diet, including raw spinach, celery, cooked beans, broccoli, berries, cherries, avocados, and nuts. If all else fails, you can get a fiber supplement or a fiber powder that you can mix with milk.
5. Vitamins and Supplements
Even though vitamins and supplements aren’t technically foods, you can talk to your dentist about possible supplements for your diet to bolster gum health. While you may not need a vitamin or supplement unless you’re prone to gum issues, you may want to be proactive if your family has a history of gum degeneration.
Common supplements for gum health include:
- Vitamin C
- Omega-3s
- Probiotics
- Melatonin
- Vitamin D
- B-Complex
- Zinc
- CoQ10
- Curcumin
- Green Tea
If you think you may have periodontal disease, the best thing you can do is schedule an appointment with your dentist. If you’re in the Houston, TX, area, we’d be more than happy to assist you.
As you wait for your appointment, you can snack on some of the foods included on this list and keep up with your best oral hygiene practices.